Comprehensive Neurodivergence Terms Glossary

ableism
Discrimination or prejudice against disabled or neurodivergent people.

accommodations
Adjustments made to support someone’s needs.

acceptance
Recognizing and valuing someone as they are.

acceptance and commitment therapy
Therapy focused on acceptance and acting according to personal values.

acquired neurodivergence
Neurodivergence developed later in life.

acquired or traumatic brain injury
Brain injury caused by trauma or illness after birth.

adaptive coping
Healthy ways of dealing with stress.

adaptive functioning
Skills needed to handle everyday life.

adaptive morphing
Changing behavior to fit environmental expectations.

advocacy
Speaking up for rights and needs.

affect dysregulation
Difficulty managing emotional states.

affinity-based groups
Groups formed around shared identity or experience.

aphantasia
Inability to form mental visual images.

alexithymia
Difficulty identifying and expressing emotions.

allistic
Non autistic person.

ally
Someone who supports a marginalized group.

art therapy
Therapy using creative and artistic processes.

asperger’s syndrome
Former autism subtype now included under the autism spectrum.

assistive technology
Tools that support functioning or communication.

autism
A neurodevelopmental form of neurodivergence.

autism community
Autistic people and those connected to them.

authenticity
Acting in alignment with one’s true self.

autistic
Identity term for someone on the autism spectrum.

autistic burnout
Deep exhaustion from long term stress or masking.

autistic interests
Intense, focused areas of interest.

autistic masking
Hiding autistic traits to fit social expectations.

autistic rage
Intense emotional overload expressed as anger.

autonomy
Ability to make one’s own decisions.

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Neurodivergence involving attention and regulation differences.

attention regulation
Ability to maintain or shift attention as needed.

attention shifting
Moving attention from one task or stimulus to another.

auditory filtering
Ability to tune out irrelevant sounds.

auditory processing differences
Differences in interpreting and processing sounds.

auditory sensitivity
Heightened sensitivity to sound.

augmentative and alternative communication
Communication methods supporting or replacing speech.

behavioural rigidity
Difficulty being flexible in routines or behaviors.

behavioural therapy
Therapy aimed at changing behaviors.

body doubling
Working alongside someone to improve focus.

breathing feedback
Techniques that track and guide breathing patterns.

burnout
Physical and emotional exhaustion.

camouflaging
Concealing neurodivergent traits.

challenging behaviour
Behaviors signaling unmet needs or distress.

cognition
Mental processes involved in thinking.

cognitive ability
Capacity for mental tasks and reasoning.

cognitive biases
Predictable errors in thinking.

cognitive behavioral therapy
Therapy linking thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

cognitive fatigue
Mental exhaustion.

cognitive flexibility
Ability to shift thinking or adapt to change.

cognitive load management
Managing the amount of mental effort required.

cognitive overload
When mental demands exceed capacity.

cognitive persistence
Ability to stay mentally engaged with a task.

cognitive rigidity
Difficulty changing thoughts or adapting to new rules.

cognitive strengths
Areas where a person’s thinking skills are strong.

compensation strategies
Techniques used to work around challenges.

context switching
Moving between different tasks or environments.

coping strategies
Ways of managing stress or difficulty.

cross-modal processing
Using information from multiple senses together.

deep pressure therapy
Calming pressure applied to the body.

deficits-based approach
Focusing mainly on what a person cannot do.

demasking
Reducing or stopping masking behaviors.

developmental coordination disorder
Motor coordination difficulties affecting daily tasks.

developmental delay
Skills developing later than expected.

developmental milestone
A key skill usually achieved at a certain age.

developmental window
A period when certain skills are more easily learned.

disability community
People with disabilities and their allies.

disability justice
Framework centered on equity and rights for disabled people.

diverse communication
Different ways of expressing and understanding meaning.

double empathy problem
Mutual misunderstanding between autistic and non autistic people.

dyad of impairments
Older autism model focused on social and behavioral areas.

dyspraxia
Difficulty planning and coordinating physical movements.

dyscalculia
Difficulty understanding numbers and math.

dyschronometria
Difficulty perceiving or keeping track of time.

dysgraphia
Difficulty with handwriting or written expression.

dyslexia
Differences in reading and language processing.

early cognition
Early thinking and problem solving skills.

early intellectual ability
Advanced or early developing reasoning skills.

early language
Early development of language skills.

early speech
Early spoken language development.

early reading
Developing reading skills earlier than typical.

early literacy
Foundational pre reading skills developing early.

early social skills
Early development of social communication.

early emotional skills
Early understanding and expression of emotions.

early walking
Walking earlier than typical developmental timing.

early verbal development
Early or advanced spoken language abilities.

early motor development
Early or advanced physical movement skills.

echolalia
Repeating words or phrases heard earlier.

executive attention
Directing and maintaining attention on goals.

executive dysfunction
Difficulty with planning, organizing, or self regulation.

executive function
Mental skills for planning, organizing, and controlling actions.

executive function coaching
Support that teaches strategies for executive skills.

experiential learning
Learning through direct experience.

expressive language
Ability to express thoughts through speech or symbols.

expressive language differences
Variations in how people express themselves.

extrinsic motivation
Motivation driven by external rewards.

fidgeting
Small movements that help regulate focus.

fine motor skills
Small precise movements like writing or buttoning.

flow
A state of deep focus and engagement.

flow states in neurodivergence
Intense focus states common in some neurodivergent people.

flourishing
Thriving and achieving well being.

focus shifting
Changing focus from one task or idea to another.

focused attention
Ability to concentrate on one task or stimulus.

functioning labels
Terms like high functioning or low functioning that oversimplify support needs.

frustration intolerance
Difficulty coping with frustration or obstacles.

gifted
Having exceptional abilities or high potential in certain areas.

global developmental delay
Delays across multiple developmental areas in early childhood.

gross motor skills
Large body movements like walking or jumping.

heart rate variability training
Exercises that improve stress regulation through controlled breathing.

hidden disability awareness
Understanding that not all disabilities are visible.

hidden disability sunflower
A symbol worn to signal an invisible disability.

high frustration tolerance
Ability to manage frustration well.

high functioning
A non precise label often used to describe fewer visible support needs.

high intelligence
Above average cognitive ability.

high support needs
Requiring significant or frequent assistance.

hyperacusis
Extreme sensitivity to sound.

hyperarousal
Heightened activation of the nervous system.

hyperconnectivity
Increased neural communication between brain regions.

hyperfocus
Intense and sustained concentration.

hyperlexia
Advanced reading ability with language or comprehension differences.

hypervigilance
Constant alertness to potential threats.

hypersensitivity
Heightened sensitivity to sensory input.

hypoarousal
Low nervous system activation or low alertness.

hyposensitivity
Reduced sensitivity to sensory input.

identity first language
Using identity based terms like autistic person.

independence
Ability to act or make choices without assistance.

information processing
How the brain receives and uses information.

inertia
Difficulty starting or switching tasks.

intellectual disability
Significant limitations in reasoning and adaptive skills.

intellectual strengths
Areas where thinking skills are strong.

intactness
Unimpaired or preserved function.

interference control
Ability to ignore distractions.

interoception
Sensing internal body states like hunger or heartbeat.

interpersonal skills
Skills used to interact with other people.

intersectionality
How overlapping identities affect experience and discrimination.

invisible disability
A disability not immediately apparent to others.

joint attention
Sharing focus on an object or event with another person.

language onset
The age or timing when language begins to develop.

late cognition
Cognitive skills developing later than typical.

late intellectual ability
Advanced reasoning emerging later rather than early.

late language
Language development occurring later than expected.

late speech
Speech beginning later than typical ages.

late reading
Reading skills developing later than peers.

late literacy
Foundational literacy skills developing later.

late social skills
Social communication developing later.

late emotional skills
Emotional understanding developing later.

late walking
Walking later than typical developmental ranges.

late motor development
Motor skills developing later than expected.

late verbal development
Spoken language developing later.

learning differences
Variations in how people learn.

learning disorder
Specific difficulty affecting learning in one or more areas.

life skills differences
Differences in daily living or practical skills.

lived experience
Personal, firsthand experience of a condition or identity.

low frustration tolerance
Difficulty managing frustration or setbacks.

low functioning
A non precise and outdated label implying high support needs.

low support needs
Needing relatively little assistance day to day.

masking
Hiding natural traits to fit social expectations.

masking fatigue
Exhaustion caused by long periods of masking.

medical model of disability
Model viewing disability as a problem within the person.

meltdown
Loss of emotional or sensory control due to overload.

mental fatigue
Tiredness caused by extended cognitive effort.

mental ill health
Experiences related to mental distress or mental health conditions.

mindfulness-based therapy
Therapy using present-moment awareness practices.

mindfulness training
Exercises to increase awareness and reduce stress.

misophonia
Strong negative reactions to specific sounds.

motor planning
Organizing and carrying out movement sequences.

movement therapy
Therapeutic approaches using bodily movement.

multi-modal communicator
Someone who uses multiple communication methods.

multi-sensory integration
Combining information from different senses.

multiple learning differences
Having more than one learning variation.

music therapy
Therapy using music for emotional or sensory support.

mutuality
Reciprocal understanding or shared connection.

neuro-affirming
Approach that validates neurodivergent ways of being.

neuro-cognitive load
Mental effort required to process information.

neurodivergence
Natural variation in brain function.

neurodivergent
Describes someone whose brain functions differently from the neuromajority.

neurodivergent advocacy
Promoting rights and needs of neurodivergent people.

neurodivergent communication styles
Communication patterns common in neurodivergent people.

neurodivergent education approaches
Teaching methods that support neurodivergent learners.

neurodivergent fatigue
Exhaustion caused by constant adaptation or overload.

neurodivergent identity
Sense of self based on being neurodivergent.

neurodivergent learning styles
Ways neurodivergent people best learn.

neurodivergent mentorship
Guidance provided by or for neurodivergent individuals.

neurodivergent pride
Positive identity and self acceptance as neurodivergent.

neurodivergent representation
Presence of neurodivergent people in media or society.

neurodivergent strength-based approaches
Focusing on abilities rather than deficits.

neurodivergent strengths
Areas where neurodivergent people excel.

neurodiverse
Group that includes multiple types of brains.

neurodiversity
The natural diversity of human minds.

neurodiversity paradigm
View that neurodiversity is natural and valuable.

neuro-inclusion
Creating environments that welcome all neurotypes.

neurokindred
People with similar neurotypes or neurodivergent experiences.

neuromajority
People whose neurotype is most common in society.

neurominority
People whose neurotype is less common.

neuronormative
Conforming to neuromajority expectations.

neurotypical
Not neurodivergent.

non-autistic
Not autistic.

non-verbal
Not using spoken language.

non-traditionally communicating
Communicating in ways other than typical speech patterns.

obsessive-compulsive disorder
Condition involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

occupational therapy approaches
Methods supporting daily living, sensory, and motor skills.

orthogonality
Being independent or unrelated in characteristics.

overstimulation
Too much sensory input for the nervous system to handle.

parallel play
Children playing beside each other without interacting.

pathological demand avoidance

Extreme avoidance of everyday demands and pressure.

pervasive drive for autonomy
Strong need for independence and self direction.

person-first language
Language like “person with autism,” putting the person before the condition.

physical awareness
Understanding one’s body position and movement.

prefrontal cortex
Brain area involved in planning, decision making, and self control.

positive psychology
Focus on strengths, well being, and flourishing.

pragmatic language differences
Differences in social use of language.

precocious cognition
Early developing thinking or problem solving skills.

precocious intellectual ability
Advanced reasoning earlier than typical.

precocious language
Language skills emerging early.

precocious speech
Speaking earlier or more advanced than typical.

precocious reading
Reading skills developing very early.

precocious literacy
Early development of reading and writing foundations.

precocious social skills
Social understanding developing early.

precocious emotional skills
Early emotional awareness or regulation.

precocious walking
Walking earlier than typical age ranges.

precocious motor development
Early physical skill development.

precocious verbal development
Early spoken language skills.

problem behaviour
Behaviors that signal unmet needs or distress.

problem solving differences
Unique approaches to figuring things out.

processing differences
Variations in how the brain interprets information.

proprioception
Sense of body position and movement.

proprioception differences
Variations in how body signals are perceived.

proprioceptive seeking
Seeking deep pressure or movement input for regulation.

psychosocial disability
Disability arising from mental health or social barriers.

psychosocial supports
Supports that help with emotional, social, or daily functioning.

quality of life
Overall well being and life satisfaction.

receptive language
Ability to understand language.

reasonable adjustments
Changes made to ensure access and inclusion.

rejection sensitive dysphoria
Extreme emotional pain triggered by perceived rejection.

regression
Loss of previously learned skills.

respiration feedback
Techniques providing information about breathing patterns.

rigidity
Difficulty being flexible in routines or thoughts.

rigidity of thought
Sticking to the same ideas or perspectives.

role models in neurodivergence
Neurodivergent people who offer inspiration or guidance.

routine preference
Comfort with predictable patterns or schedules.

savant
Person with exceptional skill in a narrow area.

savant syndrome
Coexistence of disability with extraordinary abilities.

scripting
Using pre prepared phrases or dialogues.

selective mutism
Inability to speak in certain settings despite ability to speak elsewhere.

situational mutism
Speaking only in some contexts, similar to selective mutism.

self advocacy skills
Ability to express needs and rights.

self determination
Control over one’s own choices and life.

self injurious behaviours
Behaviors that cause harm to oneself.

self soothing
Actions used to calm oneself.

self stimulation
Repetitive movements or sounds for self regulation.

sensory avoidance
Avoiding sensory input that feels overwhelming.

sensory avoidance strategies
Methods to reduce exposure to distressing sensory input.

sensory diet
Planned sensory activities that help with regulation.

sensory integration therapy
Therapy helping the brain process and respond to sensory input.

sensory modulation
Ability to adjust responses to sensory input.

sensory novelty
New or unusual sensory experiences.

sensory overload
Too much sensory input leading to overwhelm.

sensory processing differences
Variations in how sensory information is perceived and interpreted.

sensory regulation
Managing responses to sensory input.

sensory regulation strategies
Techniques used to control sensory input or response.

sensory seeking
Craving sensory input for stimulation or regulation.

shadowing
Following someone to mimic behavior or support learning.

shutdown
Withdrawal or unresponsiveness due to overload.

social anxiety
Fear or stress in social situations.

social cognition differences
Variations in understanding social information.

social cue interpretation
Ability to read facial expressions, gestures, and tone.

social fatigue
Tiredness from social interactions.

social learning differences
Variations in how social skills are acquired.

social motivation differences
Differences in desire to engage socially.

social participation differences
Variations in engagement in social activities.

social reciprocity
Mutual back-and-forth in social interaction.

special education
Education tailored to students’ unique learning needs.

special interest
Highly focused area of interest.

special interests
Multiple intense areas of focus.

special interests intensity
Depth and focus level of special interests.

speech onset
Age or timing when spoken language begins.

spiky profile
Uneven skills across different areas.

stimming
Repetitive movements or sounds for self-regulation.

stimming variations
Different forms of self-stimulatory behavior.

stress response
Body and mind reaction to stressors.

stress tolerance
Ability to handle stress.

strengths character
Personal qualities reflecting strengths.

strengths signature
Distinctive patterns of an individual’s strengths.

strengths-based approach
Focusing on abilities rather than deficits.

subjective wellbeing
Personal sense of happiness and life satisfaction.

task completion challenge
Difficulty finishing tasks.

task initiation difficulty
Difficulty starting tasks.

task persistence
Ability to continue tasks despite challenges.

task prioritization
Ability to order tasks by importance.

task switching
Shifting focus between tasks.

tantrum
Emotional outburst, often due to frustration or distress.

tactile defensiveness
Discomfort or avoidance of touch.

tactile sensitivity
Heightened response to touch.

theory of mind
Ability to understand others’ thoughts and feelings.

tic disorders
Conditions causing involuntary movements or sounds.

time blindness
Difficulty perceiving or managing time.

time perception differences
Variations in sensing or estimating time.

tourette syndrome
Neurological disorder causing motor and vocal tics.

trauma-informed care
Care approach considering past trauma in treatment.

treatment
Interventions for health, mental health, or development.

twice-exceptional
Giftedness coexisting with disability or learning differences.

understimulation
Lack of sufficient sensory or cognitive input.

unmasking
Reducing or stopping masking behaviors to reveal true self.

vestibular processing differences
Variations in how the brain processes balance and movement input.

vestibular seeking
Seeking movement or balance stimulation.

vestibular system
Body system that controls balance and spatial orientation.

visual learning preferences
Tendency to learn best through visual input.

visual processing differences
Variations in how visual information is interpreted.

visual sensitivity
Heightened sensitivity to visual stimuli.

visual thinking
Thinking primarily in images rather than words.

wellbeing
State of health, happiness, and life satisfaction.

work environment adaptations
Changes to support neurodiverse or disabled workers.

working memory differences
Variations in holding and using information mentally.